Eurogamer has "confirmed" that Bandai Namco is behind Metroid Prime 4 and it will be the Singapore studio, who've never made a game but is made up with mainly Ex-LucasArts Singapore staff who where working on Star War 1313.

I have to admit that once I knew that Retro weren't going to be the developers of this, I was hoping it would be Nintendo themselves. I agree with Jas that this has to be right. *wishes we had a crossed fingers emoticon*

I have to admit that once I knew that Retro weren't going to be the developers of this, I was hoping it would be Nintendo themselves. I agree with Jas that this has to be right. *wishes we had a crossed fingers emoticon*

It was always going to be outsourced as you can sort of guess what all the Nintendo teams are doing or done recently. Sure they could get kids like Splatoon but that was a fresh IP not something like Metroid, I know this a similar thing a unproven studio but they have at least have some pedigree.

I have to admit that once I knew that Retro weren't going to be the developers of this, I was hoping it would be Nintendo themselves. I agree with Jas that this has to be right. *wishes we had a crossed fingers emoticon*

It was always going to be outsourced as you can sort of guess what all the Nintendo teams are doing or done recently. Sure they could get kids like Splatoon but that was a fresh IP not something like Metroid, I know this a similar thing a unproven studio but they have at least have some pedigree.

For me it's just an odd treatment of what is arguably their third biggest game series after Mario and Zelda, and considering the games that were just produced for those I really want the same for Metroid. Anyhow I might just be overly worrying about it since its my favourite Nintendo series but considering how well the last outsourced console Metroid game went I dont think Im wrong to feel like it deserves better.

I think we've got to face facts that Nintendo don't see it that way, Jas. I reckon they see Pokémon in third, and the likes of Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, and even Fire Emblem before Metroid these days. Hopefully everybody buys this and proves them wrong.

And while the last outsourced Metroid home console game went badly (according to people who played it), the last outsourced Metroid console game was MSR. It was pretty good! So it can be done. Albeit I'd hope this game has more charm and atmosphere than much of MSR did.

I think Pokemon is a little too removed from Nintendo's internal goings-on to be considered the third pillar. However, if yoou come to Japan you'll see that right now the triforce is Mario, Zelda and Splatoon.

I was going to say similar to Balla, I think historically Metroid is a big series and the "Nintendo" fans on sties like us, it still is a big deal and why Nintendo can show a image of a title screen and not release the game till 2019.

But at the end of the day Nintendo are a business and if I was a share holder I wouldn't think it's big at all compared to the likes of Animal Crossing or Fire Emblem.

I would personally say Pokemon is Nintendo's biggest franchise by a mile if you want to include it but Drunka might right that it's own weird thing which can have a company just for it.

Other M, I've not played and funnily enough is likely the Metroid game I'd most likely like was from a proven studio where Samus Returns was from a studio who made two Metroidvanias before it and neither where good, yet look out how the game turned out.

I posted elsewhere about numbers and I know Jas isn't a fan but on this week's NVG Peer basically saying same as me, Namco trusted with SMASH Nintendo's 3rd best selling series that he couldn't see why the 15th best selling game wouldn't be trusted to them.

Oh yeah, obviously their hit rate is crazy high and I'm assuming your biggest concern is how Other M went down, but I'm sure they've learnt from that. At the end of the day if they don't have the talent in house or resources to do it justice I'd sooner see it from a collaboration than not see it at all.

There's always a chance a game could go bad though? Nintendo aren't totally infallible and I don't see them not watching over the game and ensuring it meets certain standards.

You'd think going back to SMASH4 for instance, Namco developed but Sakurai was still the director and with Prime 4, Tanabe is overseeing a talented new development team to (actual quote from Bill Trinen) work on Prime 4.

My personal opinion is that it isn't worth worrying about it at this stage. The game's too far away to know one way or another whether Namco's involvement will be good or bad. At least they're not Team Ninja.